An Elementary Experimental Chemistry

by John Bernard Ekeley

Excerpt

There are two things that the study of a science should accomplish for the student: first, the development of the powers of observation; second, a knowledge of the relations of the principles and facts that underlie that science. The first may be obtained to a greater or less degree from the study of any science by the experimental method; the lat ter however may often be only imperfectly acquired even by those who are able to make accurate observations, but who fail to draw the correct or logical conclusions. It is the aim of this book to aid the student in accomplishing both these things. The author has found by experience (as, in deed, what teacher has not that all beginners in the study of chemistry are by no means natural adepts at making the necessary observations, but that by a sufiiciently prolonged course of experiments their powers in this direction are easily augmented. The difiiculty comes, however, in ena bling the student, after the observations have been made, to form the correct conclusions, and, finally, when both these things have been done throughout the subject, to round it off into a symmetrical whole.